Pretty much that. Granted I haven't been to one stateside, but the ones I went to while I was stationed in Germany were awesome. Lots of cool craftwork for sale, great food, and mead I haven't found an equal to here stateside.

Ren Faires are one of the last bastions of free spirit. No one gets judged at a Ren Faire because the silliness of it all is why most people pay to go. The only other place that has that type of freedom is Comic Cons. Although the models they pay to advertise may get a little judgey of the cosplayers, but it's ok because they are nothing but eye candy with no soul anyways.

I went every year since I was a few days old. Still have a Faire Map from 1979.Tried a dozen other Faires and none were nearly as good. I think the forest ended up getting chopped down and turned into a golf course, the bastards.

I always enjoyed the AZ and CO Ren Faires, but the "Mutton and Mead" festival up here in New England pretty much sucked. It was tiny, the turkey legs were bland, and there was nary a corseted wench in sight. The more time I spend up in this area of the country, the more I am amazed that anyone actually chooses to live here.

Teufelaffe:I always enjoyed the AZ and CO Ren Faires, but the "Mutton and Mead" festival up here in New England pretty much sucked. It was tiny, the turkey legs were bland, and there was nary a corseted wench in sight. The more time I spend up in this area of the country, the more I am amazed that anyone actually chooses to live here.

I grew up in CT, and dont recall anyone ever getting excited about a Ren Faire. Here in Tampa Bay FL the local one is a pretty big deal...at least among the crowd thats into that sort of thing.

Stay tuned for my 5 part TV special 'Why people go to Amusement Parks', 'Why fellows like Hot Rods and Motorcycles', 'Why people go to Water Parks during Summer', 'Why good looking people get dated' and 'Why women prefer men who have big money'.

Teufelaffe:I always enjoyed the AZ and CO Ren Faires, but the "Mutton and Mead" festival up here in New England pretty much sucked. It was tiny, the turkey legs were bland, and there was nary a corseted wench in sight. The more time I spend up in this area of the country, the more I am amazed that anyone actually chooses to live here.

You mean the one in Apache Junction right? Despite the area being a shiathole I always loved it too. I haven't been to one elsewhere, so I have no basis for comparison.

There's nothing quite like chowing down on the hind appendage of large farmed fowl while dressed as an anachronistic pirate and watching grown men and women debase themselves with slapstick and mud for tips.

/Going to the one in Deerfield Beach, FL this month during Pirate Weekend.

theorellior:Turkey legs. Although turkeys are New World birds, so they technically wouldn't have them in the actual Renaissance.

Turkeys were take from the new world to the old world, where they thrived. Then they were taken back to the new world and introduced to North America. Where those farking things are thriving. Too damn many obnoxious wild turkeys around here ever since they killed off all the coyotes.

So basically, while they might have known about turkeys, it is unlikely they would be selling turkey legs at a country fair.

neuroflare:Teufelaffe: I always enjoyed the AZ and CO Ren Faires, but the "Mutton and Mead" festival up here in New England pretty much sucked. It was tiny, the turkey legs were bland, and there was nary a corseted wench in sight. The more time I spend up in this area of the country, the more I am amazed that anyone actually chooses to live here.

You mean the one in Apache Junction right? Despite the area being a shiathole I always loved it too. I haven't been to one elsewhere, so I have no basis for comparison.

Yep, that's the one. Been about a half dozen times over the years, always had a good time. I like the one in CO better, if only for the fact that it was in the middle of a forested area and the temperatures weren't in the high 80s like they usually are at the AZ one. I have some pics from the CO one:

I went every year since I was a few days old. Still have a Faire Map from 1979.Tried a dozen other Faires and none were nearly as good. I think the forest ended up getting chopped down and turned into a golf course, the bastards.

It was made into a housing development. Then about 1 year later Radon gas was detected leaking from everywhere and it was deemed uninhabitable. By then the Faire had moved to Gilroy/Pacheco Pass and attendance dropped by about 90%. (Sigh) I miss the Black Point venue as well.

I remember going the Renfaire in the Agoura Hills outside LA in 1974 before the She-Ra wannabes and potheads tainted the atmosphere. At that time they were serious about the language and recreating the era. There was an actual audition phase where you had to demonstrate historical knowledge and dialect.

When it was franchised out it got really sloppy.

One year in the '80s one year, some geeks showed up in Star Trek (original series) garb wit tori orders and phasers drawn playing an away team.